Wouldn’t it be fun to just hop in your car and drive? Although that sounds nice, it’s not a smart move for a long road trip. You’ll be driving a lot and sitting in your car for hours — or days — on end. So there are a few things you’ll need to take care of before you go, including thinking about what you want to do with your car once you arrive at your destination.
Have Your Car Inspected
Before you go, you should have a mechanic thoroughly inspect your car for any problems or potential problems based on current wear and tear. You should also look over your vehicle yourself — since you drive it all the time, you likely know your car better than anyone. Address any and all issues before your trip such as broken windshield wipers, tire problems, poorly functioning A/C, or low fluid levels. Also, check your car’s spare tire and have it replaced if it’s not in good shape.
What to Keep in Your Car
What you should keep in the car largely depends on whom (and how many) you’re traveling with, how long your road trip is, and where you’re traveling. Regardless, the first thing you should do is make sure the car is empty and clean. Traveling around with stuff you don’t need or sitting in a dirty car for days on end is something you shouldn’t subject yourself or anyone else to. And if you don’t have these items in your car already, be sure to add jumper cables, an ice/snow scraper if you’re going somewhere cold, windshield wiper fluid, and the tools needed to change a tire.
As for the essential road trip items to keep in your car, these include: paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags (full size or plastic grocery bags), disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, an old-fashioned paper map or two, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, a case of water, and tissues. It’s also a good idea to have change (preferably quarters and dimes) and cash in an accessible location for tolls, even if you have a toll pass that works in every state you’re heading to. Lastly, be sure to have important contact numbers written down, such as the number for AAA.
Other items that are great to have on a road trip include: extra toiletries, pain killers, motion sickness medicine, reusable dishware (such as mugs, bowls, plates, and utensils) or paper plates and utensils, dish soap, snacks that don’t need to be refrigerated, a cooler (if you have the room), dry ice, snacks or beverages for the cooler, zip-lock bags, blankets, pillows, puzzles or games that can be played in the car, and an iPod or phone with downloaded music and podcasts.
What to Do With Your Car Once You’ve Arrived
Before you leave for your trip, you should also consider what you want to do with your car once you’ve reached your destination. Unless you’re skilled with driving in many different climates and places, it might be in your best interest to park your car once you’ve arrived.
Consider this scenario: After days of traveling from the East Coast, you’ve finally reached your dream destination of Las Vegas, Nevada. Driving around Las Vegas can be both expensive and inconvenient, especially if you’re not used to navigating a big city. But there are many ways to save money in Vegas, especially on transportation. Consider taking public transport, such as the bus. You can get a day pass that will allow you to travel all over the Strip for a small fee. Many hotels also offer free shuttle services, so be sure to look into that as well when booking your hotel before the trip.
Remember: If you’re going to park your car in a garage for a week, take anything of value out of the car. To really prevent your car from being a target of theft, clean out the car so it looks relatively empty, and lock any other items in the trunk so they’re out of view. Most importantly, be sure to have copies of all your car’s documentation on you (ex: your title, registration, and insurance) and not in the car.
All of these steps might seem like overkill, but you never know what’s going to happen or what you’ll need on a long road trip, especially if you’ve not been on many. Follow this advice from the pros and you’ll be ready to handle any issue that comes your way — and have a great trip!
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